Page 49 of Devil's Bride

I sit on the edge of the bed and toe off my shoes, but when she walks in, she has all my attention.

I lean back on my elbow, taking in all of her; from the waviness of her soft hair to the flash of fair thighs peeking out from underneath her short flower-patterned dress.

“You’re wondering why...”

“The flowers? The chocolates?” She rubs her arms. “It’s a sweet move.”

“And I’m not sweet.”

She laughs, and nothing has ever sounded warmer. “The words came right out of your mouth.”

After a long look, I peel off my shirt, climb on the bed, and pat at the empty space. “Come here.”

I see the flash of a fight in her eyes. But as quickly as it comes, it fades. She nibbles on her lower lip and joins me on the bed. We settle in, I drag her closer, and pull the covers over her.

She wraps her arms around my bare torso and I cradle her head in my arms.

“What is this?” she whispers, as if scared to speak out loud and shatter the moment

I tuck her hair behind her ears and stare at the ceiling. “I don’t know, Irina. I think it’s called ‘cuddling.’”

“Oh.” She snickers.

“You’re right; I’m not sweet.” I smile. “But when it comes to you, I’m willing to find out more about chocolates and flowers, Irina.”

She doesn’t say anything, but I bet that if I looked at her, I’d see the stain of crimson on her cheeks and a smile curving her lips. And that’s more than enough for me. Holding her, talking with her; everything in this moment feels right. I don’t want it to ever stop.

I don’t want to ever let her go.

Chapter Sixteen

Irina

“I told you he wasn’t a monster.”

I throw myself on the bed, grinning at the ceiling, and kicking my feet with my phone in one hand. I’m thinking of last night, how hot Alexei was and how hard his cock was in my mouth. I’m blushing, my body throbbing at the memory of what happens to be the best sex I’ve ever had.

“Considering how good he is in bed, I would say he is a monster,” I say to Arielle over the phone. I’m sure she’s also blushing.

Alexei went to his study early this morning after he received a call from Dimitri, but he agreed we’d have breakfast together, before I go to see my family.

My best friend coos. “Now I wish it was me who married him.”

I chuckle. “Easy, girl. I get jealous when it comes to my husband.”

Arielle giggles over the phone. “Don’t be greedy. It’s so hot having a husband who’ll shoot someone and have the hottest sex with you afterwards. Girl, you’re so lucky.”

“I am.” I’m still not open to Alexei shooting people over the smallest things, but I do agree it’s hot knowing he would kill and burn down the world for me. He’s like a morally gray character from a novel, and I’m in love… “Shit!”

“What is it?” Arielle asks.

“I… I think I’m starting to fall in love with him.” It’s fun daydreaming about my mafia husband but falling in love with him makes everything too real. I can’t continue my anti-mafia efforts if I do. I’d be living a life against everything my father taught me.

I don’t think this is right.

“Why do you sound like you’re upset about that?”

“Because I am, I shouldn’t love him, Ari. He’s the enemy.” I even feel stupid admitting that to myself. Alexei is the enemy, but he feels more like a lover right now. I’m insanely attracted to him. Insanely.

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